Goldweight [Cannon] 19th-20th century

This small bronze "Goldweight [Cannon]" was crafted by the Akan people of Ghana in the 19th-20th centuries. Goldweights, like this one, were used to weigh gold dust during commercial transactions, and are often fashioned in the shape of objects of everyday life. The design of this goldweight depicts a small cannon on a stand, and is likely representative of the cultural impact of European trade on West Africa.